Back Pain
What is it?
Back pain will affect around 80% of the population during their lifetime and therefore one of the commonest injuries that physiotherapists treat. The causes of low back pain are varied. One of the most common structures to injure are the discs of the back. These can get damaged by a variety of activities from working in the garden to lifting heavy objects poorly. There are also joints between each of the bones of the back that can become painful and these joints, called “facet joints” are a common cause of pain in the back. It’s also possible to sustain ligament injury, muscle injury and on rare occasions break the bones of the back.
What we do?
With so many possible causes of injury to the back a careful assessment and detailed history of the low back pain must be undertaken. This will include special questions about your back pain, a review of your movement and other tests that examine the bones, muscles and nerves of your back. This will allow your physiotherapist to make a diagnosis and start you on the road to recovery. Your treatment may include, massage joint mobilisation and/or acupuncture. It will also include exercise as this is a key part to rehabilitation whilst also aiming to reduce the risk of you re injuring yourself. Importantly our physiotherapists use evidence based practice which means the treatments that we use has been researched so have sound scientific support for their use.
What are the benefits?
Your physiotherapist will aim to decrease your pain levels and improve your movement to allow you to get back to normal life as soon as possible, so for example, you can return to work. Importantly we will aim to return you to whatever activities you like to undertake in the shortest time possible.
How can we help?
With the right treatment most back pain resolves quickly. Typically most people will be back to normal in around six weeks. Occasionally back pain is more resistant to physiotherapy but if this is the case we have excellent contacts with specialists in the local area who we can refer you to. They may decide to arrange further investigation such as MRI or CT injections. This will provide additional information as to the reasons your low back pain has not resolved.
What should you do?
With injury and in particular back pain it is very important to seek early treatment to prevent the condition becoming a long-term issue (medically trained people would call this a chronic condition). Your GP will be able to help with pain medication but the other treatments discussed above also play an important role in getting you back on your feet. So if you have hurt your back and are struggling with pain and movement call today to book in with one of our physiotherapists.
To arrange an appointment or speak to a physiotherapist, call or email on:
Southend on Sea: 01702 521 042 or info@physioacademy.co.uk
Chelmsford: 01245 254 069 or chelmsford@physioacademy.co.uk
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